American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, serving millions of passengers each year. As with any airline, American Airlines has specific baggage policies that passengers must adhere to, to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience. One of these policies is a baggage embargo.
There are times when American Airlines may impose embargoes to certain destinations, which can cause confusion and frustration for travelers. How will this affect my trip and my baggage? That’s where this article steps in.
In this post, we’ll explain what a baggage embargo is and why American Airlines enforces them to certain destinations. You’ll learn where and when baggage embargoes can occur. We’ll also cover how baggage embargoes affect baggage allowances.
What Is a Baggage Embargo?
A baggage embargo is a restriction on the amount and type of baggage that can be checked or carried on a particular flight or route. The embargo is typically put in place during peak travel seasons or during times of high demand, when flights are more likely to be fully booked.
A baggage embargo can also be enforced for security reasons, such as when a particular airport or country is experiencing heightened security threats. In some cases, an embargo may be enacted due to weather or other unexpected events that can impact airport operations and cause delays or cancellations.
Regions Affected by Baggage Embargoes
If you intend to travel to any of the following regions, you may potentially be subject to a baggage embargo:
- Caribbean
- Central America
- Mexico
- South America
Normally, when flying to these regions, American Airlines allows you to check up to 5 bags. However, as you will soon see, bag limits are dramatically reduced for destinations impacted by a baggage embargo.
Why Does American Airlines Have Baggage Embargoes?
American Airlines imposes embargoes on certain routes for two primary reasons:
- High seasonal demand for checked baggage, and/or
- High volumes of checked baggage.
To ensure that each passenger can travel with a certain amount checked baggage, American reduces the maximum number of pieces that can be checked.
Otherwise, we would have a first-come first-served situation where those passengers who check in early would be able to bring up to 5 pieces of baggage. Latecomers would arrive at the airport discover that there is no more room in the cargo hold for their checked bags.
High Seasonal Demand for Checked Baggage
American Airlines has three periods during the year of spikes in passenger traffic. Unsurprisingly, this corresponds to holiday periods:
- November to January (Christmas season)
- May to August (Summer Break)
- July to September (Summer Break)
During these periods, not only are there more passengers traveling, but an exceedingly high proportion of them are traveling with checked baggage.
Let’s go through each period to see which destinations are affected by baggage embargoes. This will help you plan any future trips.
November to January (Christmas season)
Caribbean
Dominica, Dominica (DOM)
- Airport: Douglas–Charles Airport
- Location: St Andrew Parish, Dominica
Grenada, Grenada (GND)
- Airport: Maurice Bishop International Airport
- Location: St. George’s, Grenada
Kingston, Jamaica (KIN)
- Airport: Norman Manley International Airport
- Location: Kingston, Jamaica
Samana, Dominican Republic (AZS)
- Airport: Samaná El Catey International Airport
- Location: El Catey, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)
- Airport: Las Américas International Airport
- Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI)
- Airport: Cibao International Airport
- Location: Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
St. Vincent (SVD)
- Airport: Argyle International Airport
- Location: Saint Vincent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Central America
Comayagua, Honduras (XPL)
- Airport: Soto Cano Air Base
- Location: Comayagua, Honduras
Roatan, Honduras (RTB)
- Airport: Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport
- Location: Roatán, Honduras
San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
- Airport: Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport
- Location: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
- Airport: Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport
- Location: San Salvador, El Salvador
Mexico
Aguascalientes (AGU)
- Airport: Lic. Jesús Terán Peredo International Airport
- Location: Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Chihuahua (CUU)
- Airport: General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport
- Location: Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Culiacan (CUL)
- Airport: Bachigualato Federal International Airport
- Location: Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Hermosillo (HMO)
- Airport: General Ignacio Pesqueira García International Airport
- Location: Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Leon (BJX)
- Airport: Del Bajío International Airport (Guanajuato Int’l Airport)
- Location: León, Guanajuato, Mexico
Morelia (MLM)
- General Francisco J. Mujica International Airport
- Location: Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
San Luis Potosi (SLP)
- Airport: Ponciano Arriaga International Airport
- Location: San Luis Potosí City, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Torreon (TRC)
- Airport: Francisco Sarabia International Airport (Torreón Int’l)
- Location: Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
Zacatecas (ZCL)
- Airport: General Leobardo C. Ruiz International Airport
- Location: Zacatecas City, Zacatecas, Mexico
South America
Cali, Colombia (CLO)
- Airport: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport
- Location: Cali, Colombia
Georgetown, Guyana (GEO)
- Airport: Cheddi Jagan International Airport
- Location: Georgetown, Guyana
Paramaribo, Suriname (PBM)
- Airport: Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport
- Location: Paramaribo, Suriname
San Andres Island, Colombia (ADZ)
- Airport: Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport
- Location: San Andres Island, Colombia
May to August (Summer Break)
Caribbean
Samana, Dominican Republic (AZS)
- Airport: Samaná El Catey International Airport
- Location: El Catey, Dominican Republic
Central America
Comayagua, Honduras (XPL)
- Airport: Soto Cano Air Base
- Location: Comayagua, Honduras
Roatan, Honduras (RTB)
- Airport: Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport
- Location: Roatán, Honduras
San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
- Airport: Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport
- Location: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
- Airport: Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport
- Location: San Salvador, El Salvador
Mexico
Morelia (MLM)
- Airport: General Francisco J. Mujica International Airport
- Location: Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
July 1, 2023 – September 19, 2023
Caribbean
Grenada, Grenada (GND)
- Airport: Maurice Bishop International Airport
- Location: St. George’s, Grenada
High Volumes of Checked Baggage
The following destinations have high passenger traffic as well as high volumes of checked baggage year-round. Hence baggage embargoes to these destinations are enforced for the entire year.
Caribbean
Cuba
- Havana (HAV)
- Airport: José Martí International Airport
- Location: Havana, Cuba
- Camaguey (CMW)
- Airport: Ignacio Agramonte International Airport
- Location: Camagüey, Cuba
- Holguin (HOG)
- Airport: Frank País Airport
- Location: Holguín, Cuba
- Santiago (SCU)
- Airport: Antonio Maceo International Airport
- Location: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
- Santa Clara (SNU)
- Airport: Abel Santamaría Airport
- Location: Santa Clara, Cuba
- Varadero (VRA)
- Airport: Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport
- Location: Varadero, Cuba
Port au Prince, Haiti (PAP)
- Airport: Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport
- Location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Central America
Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)
- Airport: Augusto C. Sandino International Airport
- Location: Managua, Nicaragua
South America
Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE)
- Airport: José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
- Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador (UIO)
- Airport: Mariscal Sucre International Airport
- Location: Quito, Ecuador
Lima, Peru (LIM)
- Airport: Jorge Chávez International Airport
- Location: Lima, Peru
Embargo Baggage Restrictions
Carry-on Baggage Embargo Restrictions
Your carry-on baggage allowance is unaffected by baggage embargoes:
- 1 personal item
- 1 carry-on bag
However, depending on your airline and the type of fare you’re traveling on, you may have to pay to travel with a carry-on bag.
Checked Baggage Embargo Restrictions
Checked Bag Limit by Cabin Class
| Cabin Class | Maximum Number of Bags |
| Main Cabin | 2 |
| Premium Economy | 2 |
| Business | 2 |
| Domestic First | 2 |
| Flagship First | 3 (Flights to Cuba: 2) |
As you can see, all cabin classes except Flagship First are limited to 2 checked bags. However, for flights to Cuba, all cabin classes are limited to 2 bags.
Checked Bag Size Limit
On a flight with a baggage embargo in place, you can’t check oversized checked baggage. Your bag cannot be larger than 62 linear inches (158 centimeters).
Checked Bag Weight Limit
American Airlines does allow overweight bags, but only up to 70 pounds. As you would expect, your overweight bag will be subject to an overweight fee:
- Standard checked bags: up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms)
- Overweight checked bags: 51 to 70 pounds (23.1 to 32 kilograms)
Traveling with Special Items During Baggage Embargoes
Assistive devices and mobility aids can be checked without restrictions. These items will not be subject to any fees.
You are also allowed to travel with sports equipment. These items would also have to meet the baggage embargo limits mentioned above.
Boxes are not allowed on flights affected by a baggage embargo. American Airlines’ definition of boxes is quite broad – the airline also considers containers, coolers, and plastic tubs as boxes.
Baggage Embargoes Dates
American Airlines periodically updates the periods when baggage embargoes are in effect. As you can expect, the dates would differ slightly each year. As of the time of writing, American Airlines has published the following embargo dates (dates for Christmas season 2023 have not been published yet):
| Destination | Embargo Dates |
|---|---|
| Caribbean | |
| Cuba | All-year |
| Grenada, Grenada | July 1, 2023 – September 19, 2023 |
| Port au Prince, Haiti (PAP) | All-year |
| Samana, Dominican Republic | May 28, 2023 – August 22, 2023 |
| Central America | |
| Comayagua, Honduras (XPL) | May 28, 2023 – August 22, 2023 |
| Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) | All-year |
| Roatan, Honduras (RTB) | May 28, 2023 – August 22, 2023 |
| San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP) | May 28, 2023 – August 22, 2023 |
| San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) | May 28, 2023 – August 22, 2023 |
| Mexico | |
| Morelia (MLM) | May 28, 2023 – August 22, 2023 |
| South America | |
| Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE) | All-year |
| Quito, Ecuador (UIO) | All-year |
| Lima, Peru (LIM) | All-year |
Baggage Embargo Tips and Tricks
Arrive at the Airport Early
Airports can be busier during baggage embargo periods. Checking in your bags can take longer, and there may be longer cues at security. Be sure to allow more time to move through the airport by arriving at the airport earlier.
Expect Delays
If an embargo is in place, it may take longer for your baggage to be processed and transported. This can lead to delays in receiving your items at your final destination, so it’s important to plan accordingly and factor in extra time.
Share Your Baggage Allowance with Travel Companions
If you are traveling with others, you can pool your baggage allowances together. For example, if you want to travel with 3 checked bags, and your companion is only bringing 1 bag, you can ask your companion to check one of your bags on your behalf.
However, I would recommend that your companion examines the contents of your bag before arriving at the airport. A condition of check-in is that you must confirm to the airline that you personally packed your bags.
Check the Latest Policies
Baggage embargo restrictions can change, or new destinations can be added. If you’ve booked a flight for a destination south of the U.S. border, I highly recommend that you periodically check American Airline’s website for up-to-date information. Also, keep an eye on your email inbox for any trip updates from the airline. If you have a Twitter account, you may also want to follow American Airlines’ twitter account.
Traveling with Large or Bulky Items
If you are planning to travel with large or bulky items, it is also a good idea to research alternative options, such as shipping your items ahead of time or renting equipment at your destination. This can help you avoid the hassle of dealing with baggage embargoes and ensure that your items arrive at your destination on time.
Final Thoughts
Flying during a baggage embargo can be a frustrating and challenging aspect of travel, but with the right preparation and planning, you can minimize their impact on your trip. By staying informed about the airline’s policies and restrictions, packing efficiently, and exploring alternative options for transporting large or bulky items, you can ensure that your travel plans go smoothly and that your belongings arrive at your destination safely and on time.
Something that I found interesting while researching this post: American Airlines never uses the word “embargo” to describe these baggage restrictions. Instead, the airline uses the innocious term “baggage limitations” instead. I wonder if this was a conscious decision, as the word “embargo” can have a political connotation.
Remember to always check American Airline’s website or contact their customer service for the latest information on baggage allowances and fees.
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